International Business Machines Corporation

Michael Stan Gowen

Mark Richard Nutter

Maximino Aguilar, Jr

Michael Norman Day

Barry L Minor

James Xenidis

John Kevin Patrick O'Brien

Alex Chunghen Chow

James Michael Stafford

David John Erb

Sidney James Manning

An approach for managing position independent code using a software framework is presented. A software framework provides the ability to cache multiple plug-in's which are loaded in a processor's local storage. A processor receives a command or data stream from another processor, which includes information corresponding to a particular plug-in. The processor uses the plug-in identifier to load the plug-in from shared memory into local memory before it is required in order to minimize latency. When the data stream requests the processor to use the plug-in, the processor retrieves a location offset corresponding to the plug-in and applies the plug-in to the data stream. A plug-in manager manages an entry point table that identifies memory locations corresponding to each plug-in and, therefore, plug-ins may be placed anywhere in a processor's local memory.

Managing position independent code using a software framework

Loading software on a plurality of processors is presented. A processing unit (PU) retrieves a file from system memory and loads it into its internal memory. The PU extracts a processor type from the file's header which identifies whether the file should execute on the PU or a synergistic processing unit (SPU). If an SPU should execute the file, the PU DMA's the file to the SPU for execution. In one embodiment, the file is a combined file which includes both PU and SPU code. In this embodiment, the PU identifies one or more section headers included in the file which indicates embedded SPU code within the combined file. In this embodiment, the PU extracts the SPU code from the combined file and DMA's the extracted code to an SPU for execution.

Loading software on a plurality of processors

A method for managing position independent code using a software framework is presented. A software framework provides the ability to cache multiple plug-in's which are loaded in a processor's local storage. A processor receives a command or data stream from another processor, which includes information corresponding to a particular plug-in. The processor uses the plug-in identifier to load the plug-in from shared memory into local memory before it is required in order to minimize latency. When the data stream requests the processor to use the plug-in, the processor retrieves a location offset corresponding to the plug-in and applies the plug-in to the data stream. A plug-in manager manages an entry point table that identifies memory locations corresponding to each plug-in and, therefore, plug-ins may be placed anywhere in a processor's local memory.

A processing unit (PU) retrieves a file from system memory and loads it into its internal memory. The PU extracts a processor type from the file's header which identifies whether the file should execute on the PU or a synergistic processing unit (SPU). If an SPU should execute the file, the PU DMA's the file to the SPU for execution. In one embodiment, the file is a combined file which includes both PU and SPU code. In this embodiment, the PU identifies one or more section headers included in the file which indicates embedded SPU code within the combined file. In this embodiment, the PU extracts the SPU code from the combined file and DMA's the extracted code to an SPU for execution.

A method and apparatus is provided for analyzing performance of a computer or data processing system, during the time that a specified task is running on the system. The analysis is used to furnish a system user with a list of proposed hardware component upgrades that would improve system performance in various respects, each being accompanied by a parameter value indicating the improvement a particular upgrade would provide. Usefully, listed upgrades are made available over the Internet, for purchase by system users. In an embodiment directed to a method, for use with a computer system comprising a configuration of hardware components, selected hardware components are monitored as the system performs a specified task. This is done to acquire statistics representing the operation of respective selected components. The statistics are processed, to identify at least one selected component that impedes the system in performing the task. An upgrade of the identified component is then proposed, together with an indication of the improvement that would result if the upgrade is made.

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Georgetown, TX, United States of America

Michael Stan Gowen